What does BR40 bulb mean?
Matthew Shields
Updated on March 22, 2026
What does BR40 bulb mean?
What are R/BR40 Bulbs? Reflector (R) or Bulged Reflector (BR) 40 bulbs have a reflective coating on the inside of the bulb that directs light forward. Like all light bulbs, the 40 value represents the diameter of the bulb in 1⁄8 of an inch. Therefore, a R40 is 5 inches in diameter.
Is R40 the same as BR40?
Is R40 the Same as BR40? While R40 sounds similar to BR40, they are very different in design and application. The biggest difference between R, BR, and PAR flood light bulbs is the reflector which is the part of the bulb that reflects and distributes the light emitted.
What is the difference between BR40 and PAR38?
The difference between a BR20, BR30, and BR40 is actually the size or diameter of the light bulb. For example, a BR30 is 30/8ths of an inch or 30 divided by 8 which equals 3.75″ in diameter. The same example applies to a PAR38. Divide 38/8ths of an inch or 38 divided by 8 which equals 4.75″ in diameter.
What is BR40 size?
5
Shapes
| Shape | Diameter (inches) | Diameter (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| BR20 | 2-1/2 | 2 |
| BR30 | 3-6/8 | 2-1/2 |
| BR38 | 4-6/8 | 3-6/8 |
| BR40 | 5 | 5 |
Are BR30 and BR40 interchangeable?
The 30 and 40 refer to the size of the bulb in 1/8 inches — 30/8 and 40/8 inches respectively. For 4″ cans, you cannot choose BR40 bulbs — they’re too big. For 5″ cans, a BR30 will fit with a little space to all sides while a BR40 will fit with little to no space on the sides.
How do I know what size flood light I need?
The number following the letters in a recessed light bulb indicates size: it’s the diameter of the light bulb in eighths of an inch. So, a BR30 is 30/8 inches, or three and 3/4 inches. An MR11 is 11/8 inches. So, you can swap out a PAR30 for an R30 or a BR30 – they are all the same size.
What is R type bulb?
“R” stands for Reflector which means light bulbs that contain a built-in reflecting surface that maximizes the direction of the light the lamp emits. Reflector light bulbs are used mainly in recessed cans for hotels, restaurants, retail and residential lighting.
What is difference between BR30 and BR40?
The 30 and 40 refer to the size of the bulb in 1/8 inches — 30/8 and 40/8 inches respectively. Or more simply, the BR30 is just under 4″ across and the BR40 is 5″ across. So when you’re choosing a bulb for recessed cans, the first thing to know is the size of the cans.
What is a PAR38 flood light?
What are PAR38 Bulbs? Parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) 38 bulbs control light more precisely. LED PAR lights produce about four times the concentrated light intensity of general service A shape incandescents, and are used in recessed and track lighting. Therefore, a PAR 38 is 4.75 inches in diameter.
Why are there no BR40 smart bulbs?
In the names of these bulbs, BR refers to a bulged reflector; this shape is used to evenly spread light, which is why these are used for general lighting. The 30 and 40 refer to the size of the bulb in 1/8 inches — 30/8 and 40/8 inches respectively. For 4″ cans, you cannot choose BR40 bulbs — they’re too big.
Will a BR40 fit in a 6 inch can?
Where can I use a BR40? Typically BR40’s are used in 6-inch recessed can fixtures in the ceiling. 6-inches is the diameter of the opening of the recessed cans. 5-inch recessed cans will be difficult to fit since the diameter of a BR40 is already 5 inches.
Is BR40 brighter than BR30?
With 1100 lumens, the BR40 LEDs are about 40 to 70 percent brighter than the BR30 LEDs.